Hawaii County Police Records

Hawaii County police records are maintained by the Hawaii Police Department, which serves the entire Big Island and handles all incident reports, booking logs, and records requests for the county. You can submit a request in person at any district station, send a written request by mail to the Records and Identification Section in Hilo, or call your nearest station directly. For criminal history records, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center is the statewide source, and two public access sites on the island let you pull a printed criminal history report. Court records for Hawaii County go through the Third Circuit Court in Hilo and are searchable online through the eCourt Kokua system.

Hawaii County Police Department

The Hawaii Police Department is the sole law enforcement agency for Hawaii County. It covers the entire Big Island, which spans about 4,028 square miles and makes it the largest island in the United States by land area. The department runs eight district stations from Hilo in the east to Kailua-Kona on the west coast, with additional stations in Honoka'a, Laupahoehoe, Pahoa, Ka'u, Waimea, and Kapa'au. All police records for Hawaii County originate here, and all requests go back through this department.

The main headquarters sits at 349 Kapiolani Street in Hilo. That is also where the Records and Identification Section is located, and where you submit mail requests for police reports. For general questions, the non-emergency line is (808) 935-3311. The Police Chief's office can be reached at (808) 961-2244. For questions about someone who was arrested, call (808) 961-2213. The department email is info@hawaiipolice.gov. In an emergency, call 911. TDD service is available for those who need it.

The Hawaii Police Department website at hawaiipolice.gov has news, service information, booking logs, crime maps, and contact details for all stations.

The department provides 24-hour service across all districts of the Big Island, with patrol coverage in even the most remote areas of the island.

Hawaii County Police Report Request Process

The Hawaii Police Department offers three types of police reports. You can request them in person at any district station during business hours, by phone through the station serving the area where your incident occurred, or by written mail request sent to the Records and Identification Section at 349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720. The department's police report request page and FAQ page walk through all three methods in detail.

The department offers three report types and multiple ways to request, so residents across the Big Island can choose the method that works best for them.

The fee for a police report in Hawaii County is $1 for the first page and $0.10 for each additional page. Cash only is accepted for in-person requests. The department processes requests within 10 business days. Mail requests should include your name, contact information, the report number or enough details to identify the incident, and a check or money order for the estimated fee. Send it to the Records and Identification Section at the Hilo headquarters address.

Complete reports are generally not released until a case is closed, adjudicated, or the statute of limitations has passed. This protects active investigations and the rights of people involved. If you are a victim and need the report for insurance purposes, you may be able to get a partial copy before the case closes. Ask the records staff about that when you submit your request.

Redacted copies are standard for reports involving third parties. The department blacks out personal identifiers for people not party to your request, including names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, social security numbers, medical information, financial details, and juvenile information. Your own information as the requester stays in the report. If someone else is picking up your report, you must provide a written letter of authorization. That letter must name the person picking up the report and be signed by you. Third-party pickup without a letter is not allowed.

For calls about reports filed in East Hawaii, call the Hilo Records line at (808) 961-2233. For West Hawaii reports, call (808) 326-4646 ext. 285. The right contact depends on where your incident happened, not where you live.

Note: The department cannot release reports for cases that are still open and under active investigation, with the limited exception for victims seeking insurance documentation.

Hawaii County Police District Stations

Hawaii County is divided into districts, each with its own police station. You can request police reports at any station, but for records, contact the station covering the area where the incident occurred. East Hawaii reports go through Hilo. West Hawaii reports go through Kona. All other stations can assist with local requests or direct you to the right place.

Each station handles calls during posted business hours. After hours, the non-emergency dispatch line at (808) 935-3311 can connect you with on-duty staff for urgent questions. Emergency calls always go to 911.

Note: Station hours do not include state holidays. Call ahead on or near holidays to confirm a station is open before making a trip.

Hawaii County Booking Logs and Arrest Information

The Hawaii Police Department publishes booking logs on its website. These logs cover individuals arrested and charged within a 48-hour period. They are updated regularly and available to the public at no cost. You do not need to submit any request to see them. Just visit the News and Media section of the department website and select Booking Logs.

Each entry shows basic arrest information. Data is subject to change as cases develop through the court process. Charges can be added, reduced, or dropped entirely. A booking log entry does not mean someone was convicted of anything. It only means they were arrested and booked during the listed period. Use this information as a starting point, not a final record. For full case outcomes, search the Third Circuit Court through eCourt Kokua.

The Hawaii Police Department website also maintains an Unsolved Homicides section and a Hawaii County Crime Map. The Crime Map shows reported incidents by type and area. Both tools are available through the main department website at hawaiipolice.gov. Email and text alert subscriptions are available for residents who want automatic updates on department news, including new booking log entries and crime alerts.

For questions about a specific arrested person, including where they are being held, call (808) 961-2213. That line is dedicated to arrest status inquiries and is separate from the general non-emergency line.

Public Access Sites for Hawaii County Police Records

Hawaii County has two public access sites where you can get a printed criminal history record in person. Both are operated through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center system and charge $25 per printout. One is in Hilo and one is in Kailua-Kona, covering both sides of the island. Details are listed on the HCJDC public access sites page.

The Hilo site is at the Hawaii Police Department headquarters, 349 Kapiolani Street. Call (808) 961-2233 for hours. The Kona site is at 74-5221 Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kailua-Kona. Call (808) 326-4646 ext. 286 for hours. Both sites serve residents of their respective sides of the island. The Hilo location handles East Hawaii searches and the Kona location handles West Hawaii searches. Either site can run a search for any Hawaii resident regardless of where you live, but it is practical to go to the closer one.

Bring the subject's full name, date of birth, social security number, and sex for a name-based search. Cash is not accepted at these sites. Bring a money order, cashier's check, or payment card. Cards carry a 3% non-refundable service fee at HCJDC-operated locations. The $25 fee per printout applies regardless of how many records come back in the search. A result of no records found still costs $25 since the search was run.

These public access sites provide conviction records only. Non-conviction arrests are not accessible through this channel. For a more thorough check, including fingerprint-based searches, contact the HCJDC directly at 465 S. King Street, Room 102, Honolulu, or call (808) 587-3279.

Note: Public access site hours can vary. Call the station before visiting to confirm they are open and staffed to run the search.

Hawaii County Court Records and the Third Circuit

Criminal and civil court records for Hawaii County go through the Third Circuit Court. The courthouse is at 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720. The main phone number is (808) 961-7400. The Third Circuit handles all felony criminal cases, civil cases over a certain dollar threshold, and family court matters for Hawaii County. District court cases, including misdemeanors and traffic violations, are heard at the district court level within the same circuit.

The Hawaii State Judiciary website gives free public access to case information through the eCourt Kokua system. Search by name or case number to find charges, hearing dates, case status, and judgment information. The system runs around the clock. You do not need an account to search, though creating one through the Ho'ohiki tool lets you save searches and set up case notifications. eCourt Kokua covers all Hawaii counties, so you can search across circuits in one place.

For certified copies of court documents, contact the Third Circuit Court clerk's office directly at the Hilo courthouse. Certified copies cost more than plain copies and require a separate request. The clerk can also help with requests for older records that may not appear in the online system. The County Clerk's office is at 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, and can be reached at (808) 961-8255 for county-level document needs.

Some court records may be restricted or sealed. Juvenile cases are generally not public. Records involving certain sealed proceedings or protected parties may have limited access. If you are trying to access a record and it does not appear in the online system, call the clerk's office to ask about its status.

Inmate Information and Detention in Hawaii County

Hawaii Community Correctional Center serves Hawaii County. It is the pretrial and short-term detention facility for the Big Island. Individuals arrested in Hawaii County who cannot post bail are typically held there while their cases move through the Third Circuit Court system. For longer sentences, inmates may be transferred to state correctional facilities on Oahu.

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety website hosts the offender lookup database for all state correctional facilities. Search by name or identification number to find custody status, facility assignment, and projected release information. The database covers individuals held in state facilities statewide. For pretrial detainees who were recently booked, check the Hawaii Police Department booking logs first, since those update faster than the DPS system. If someone was just arrested and you cannot find them in the DPS database, call the arrest inquiry line at (808) 961-2213.

The Department of Public Safety also oversees prisoner transport and court security through the Sheriff Division. For facility-specific questions, contact the Department of Public Safety directly through the contact information on their website at dps.hawaii.gov.

Note: The DPS database reflects state custody only. Federal detainees held by the U.S. Marshals Service or Bureau of Prisons are in separate federal systems and do not appear in state lookups.

Public Records Laws Governing Hawaii County Police Records

Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act, known as UIPA, is the main public records law in the state. It is codified at HRS Chapter 92F. Under UIPA, government agencies must disclose records unless a specific exemption applies. Exemptions include records that could invade personal privacy or interfere with active criminal investigations. Police reports for open cases fall under the investigation exemption, which is why the Hawaii Police Department withholds full reports until cases close.

Agencies must respond to written public records requests within 10 business days under UIPA. That response can be a full disclosure, a partial disclosure with redactions, a denial with explanation, or a notice that more time is needed and why. Hawaii Administrative Rules Section 2-71-12(b) and Section 2-71-18(c) set out the specific requirements for UIPA requests, including what information your written request must include to be considered valid. The Department of Law Enforcement's UIPA request page has guidance on submitting written requests to state law enforcement agencies.

Criminal history records are governed separately by HRS Chapter 846. That law establishes the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, sets rules for who can access what type of record, and creates penalties for unauthorized disclosure of criminal history data. Conviction records are public under HRS Section 846-9. Non-conviction records are restricted. This is why public access sites and eCrim only show conviction data. Arrests that did not result in a conviction are not accessible through public channels.

If an agency denies your UIPA request and you think the denial was wrong, you can file a complaint with the Office of Information Practices. OIP is at 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 107, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone (808) 586-1400. The office investigates complaints and issues formal opinions. It also provides model request forms and public guidance on how to submit records requests that meet UIPA requirements. Hawaii County also makes certain public documents available through its Laserfiche Weblink portal at hawaiicounty.gov. Log in with username "public" and password "weblink808" to access agendas, minutes, forms, maps, and Police Commission records.

Note: UIPA governs state and county agencies in Hawaii. Federal agencies operating in the state, such as the FBI or DEA, respond to records requests under the federal Freedom of Information Act, not UIPA.

Hawaii County Police Records Contact Reference

Here is a quick reference for the most common Hawaii County police records contacts. The department has separate lines for different types of requests, so calling the right number gets you a faster response.

The department maintains multiple contact numbers for different services, so residents can reach the right unit directly without being transferred multiple times.

Cities in Hawaii County

Hawaii County spans the entire Big Island. Hilo is the county seat and serves as the main hub for records and court services in East Hawaii.

Other communities on the Big Island include Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Pahoa, Honoka'a, Na'alehu, and Volcano. All police records for these areas are handled through the Hawaii Police Department and the Third Circuit Court system in Hilo.

Other Hawaii Counties

Hawaii has five counties, each with its own police department and records process. If you are unsure which county handled a particular case, check where the incident occurred or where the involved party was living at the time.